The Sync Leadership Lab

Hosted by Suken Jain

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May 2026

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About the show

The Sync Leadership Lab is a discussion based podcast that is always cooking up and developing ideas around self and team leadership. It takes an authentic and relatable approach to real life challenges and provides inspiration and ideas on how to address them. Specific areas of focus are around leading and managing teams, as well as mid-life/career perspective shifts. The Sync Leadership Lab is hosted by Suken Jain. Suken brings two decades of experience growing his career in the corporate world, and brings in guests who have faced the everyday challenges leaders face to share.

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May 27, 202631 min

Part 2 of 2: Dr. Brett Kessler on Recovery, Resilience & Reinventing Yourself

In this powerful two part episode I sit down with Brett Kessler, D.D.S. for an honest and deeply reflective conversation about recovery, leadership, and living with intention. Dr. Brett shares two key lessons that continue to shape both his personal and professional life: the importance of moving through challenges “one mile at a time”, and the power of intentionally designing a life aligned with your personal values, mission statement, and long-term vision. While a vulnerable topic, Brett reflects openly on how overcoming substance abuse nearly three decades ago became the foundation for mindfulness, humility, discipline, and purposeful leadership.In Part 1, Dr. Brett shares his story of being a young dentist struggling with substance abuse, recognizing he needed help to make a change. While in recovery he was taught the practice of meditation and mindfulness. Not only does this practice help maintain his recovery but he has also seen exponential leadership growth opportunities by setting an intention for his life through mindfulness and a personal mission statement. Brett also shares his journey from private practice dentist to president of the American Dental Association, including leading through the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 and advocating for wellness initiatives within the dental profession. In addition, he highlights lessons learned while competing in multiple Ironman races, including the importance of resilience, adaptability, and focusing only on “the mile you’re in” during difficult moments.In this Part 2 of 2, the conversation ultimately serves as a reminder that meaningful transformation happens through intentional daily choices rather than overnight change. Brett encourages listeners to know that you deserve to live your best life and can reach that with intention and dedication. This episode offers valuable insight for anyone seeking to lead with authenticity, embrace growth through adversity, and create lasting impact both personally and professionally.Links & Resources:The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen CoveyGood to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t by Jim CollinsStart With Why by Simon SinekStrong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit by Brené BrownEmail Brett Kessler, D.D.S. at: bikodds@gmail.comFollow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/Email Suken at: suken@synergysyncsolutions.comSynergy Sync Solutions Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/This episode was brought to you by Pivot Ball Change.

May 27, 202641 min

Part 1 of 2: Dr. Brett Kessler on Recovery, Resilience & Reinventing Yourself

In this powerful two part episode I sit down with Brett Kessler, D.D.S. for an honest and deeply reflective conversation about recovery, leadership, and living with intention. Dr. Brett shares two key lessons that continue to shape both his personal and professional life: the importance of moving through challenges “one mile at a time”, and the power of intentionally designing a life aligned with your personal values, mission statement, and long-term vision. While a vulnerable topic, Brett reflects openly on how overcoming substance abuse nearly three decades ago became the foundation for mindfulness, humility, discipline, and purposeful leadership.As a young dentist struggling with substance abuse, Brett recognized he needed help to make a change. While in recovery he was taught the practice of meditation and mindfulness. Not only does this practice help maintain his recovery but he has also seen exponential leadership growth opportunities by setting an intention for his life through mindfulness and a personal mission statement. Brett also shares his journey from private practice dentist to president of the American Dental Association, including leading through the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 and advocating for wellness initiatives within the dental profession. In addition, he highlights lessons learned while competing in multiple Ironman races, including the importance of resilience, adaptability, and focusing only on “the mile you’re in” during difficult moments.This conversation is filled with a myriad of valuable takeaways, so we split it up into two easily digestible episodes. Thanks for listening to Part 1 with Dr. Brett - Part 2 is also live, where we dive into his plans post ADA presidency and his last messages for our listeners. Links & Resources:The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen CoveyGood to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t by Jim CollinsStart With Why by Simon SinekStrong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit by Brené BrownEmail Brett Kessler, D.D.S. at: bikodds@gmail.comFollow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/Email Suken at: suken@synergysyncsolutions.comSynergy Sync Solutions Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/This episode was brought to you by Pivot Ball Change.

May 6, 202659 min

Former USC QB Max Browne on Persevering Through Failure

What happens when years of discipline, performance, and expectation lead to an outcome you never planned for? In this episode, former USC quarterback Max Browne shares two powerful leadership takeaways: why acknowledging failure is a critical step toward growth, and how maintaining focus amid uncertainty can shape long-term success. His journey offers a candid look at what it means to persevere when the path forward no longer looks the way you expected.Max reflects on his experience as the nation’s top high school quarterback and his decision to attend USC, where early expectations quickly shifted. After losing the starting quarterback position, he was forced to confront adversity in a way he never had before. He credits his upbringing for instilling accountability and resilience, explaining how those values helped him navigate disappointment, stay grounded, and continue showing up as a leader despite changing circumstances.Throughout his college career, Max experienced significant instability, including multiple coaching changes and evolving team dynamics. Rather than viewing this as a setback, he chose to see it as an opportunity to learn from a variety of leadership styles. He shares how these experiences strengthened his perspective and ultimately prepared him for his career as a broadcaster. He also opens up about one of the lowest points in his life, when he lost his starting role after finally earning it, and how seeking support outside of football played a pivotal role in his ability to move forward.Following a career-ending injury and the realization that his future would extend beyond football, Max began intentionally preparing for what came next. By investing time in content creation and relationship building before his career officially ended, he created new opportunities that aligned with his evolving identity. One of his most impactful lessons is the importance of setting aside pride in order to grow, a mindset that ultimately opened unexpected doors. His story reinforces a final key takeaway: long-term success is built not just on talent, but on the willingness to adapt, take ownership, and consistently invest in what comes next.Links & Resources:Follow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/Email Suken at: suken@synergysyncsolutions.comSynergy Sync Solutions Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/This episode was brought to you by Pivot Ball Change.

April 15, 202654 min

Maximizing Productivity by Curating Team Chemistry with Laura Lillie Goodridge

Maximizing team productivity isn’t about doing more, it’s about aligning the right people to the right work. In this conversation, Laura Lillie Goodridge shares how leaders can improve output by focusing on team chemistry and intentional work allocation. Two takeaways you can apply immediately: align tasks with individual strengths rather than relying on role assumptions, and shift from solving to exploring. Curiosity around how your team naturally operates leads to stronger, more sustainable performance.With a global HR background spanning McLaren Automotive and Clear Channel UK, followed by senior leadership roles in Toronto, Laura brings a well-rounded perspective to leadership development. Since launching Laura Lillie Coaching in 2023, she has focused on helping leaders better understand and leverage individual differences within their teams.We explore how self-awareness shapes leadership, including the role of human design in understanding how individuals show up at work. Laura emphasizes that leaders are not limited to one style and can expand how they lead in ways that feel more natural and effective.A key challenge many leaders face is misaligned work allocation. While assessments have their place, Laura highlights a simpler approach: ask people what they enjoy and where they feel most capable. This shift can significantly improve both performance and engagement. She also introduces a valuable reframe on development. Teams don’t need to excel at everything. Instead, focus on excellence in core responsibilities while allowing flexibility in less critical areas.When individuals are aligned to roles that match their strengths, productivity increases and work becomes more energizing. Laura reinforces this with a simple reminder that slow is fast. Taking time to thoughtfully align people and priorities leads to better long-term results.As a final takeaway, start viewing your team through the lens of strengths rather than tasks. Have a direct conversation with each team member about where they feel most effective and where they want to grow. This small shift can create a more aligned, engaged, and high-performing team.Links:Follow Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-manager-coach/Laura’s Coaching Website: https://www.lauralilliecoaching.com/Follow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/Email Suken at: suken@synergysyncsolutions.comSynergy Sync Solutions Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/This episode was brought to you by Pivot Ball Change.

March 25, 202646 min

5 Tips to Turn Great Product Strategy into Successful Execution

Turning strategy into execution is where many organizations struggle. Even with a strong product and a talented sales team, success often depends on how effectively customers are guided from first awareness to becoming confident advocates.In this episode, Manasi Shukla, founder and CEO of Safrela Consulting, shares how companies can close the gap between strategy and real-world results. With a background in engineering from the University of Ottawa and a master’s in biomedical engineering from Cornell, Manasi brings a highly structured, systems-based approach to customer education and product adoption.She introduces her SCALE framework, a model designed to help organizations better understand their customers, map their journeys, and create meaningful engagement beyond onboarding. Manasi explains how leaders can build stronger feedback loops, ensure teams are aligned on delivery, and clearly define ownership across the customer experience.To bring the framework to life, we also walk through a practical example of applying the SCALE framework to event planning, demonstrating how these principles can guide complex initiatives from concept to execution.If you are looking for a structured approach to transforming strategy into meaningful action, this conversation offers a practical roadmap.Connect with Manasi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manasi-shukla/Visit Manasi’s Website: https://www.safrela.com/Links & Resources:Follow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/Email Suken at: suken@synergysyncsolutions.comSynergy Sync Solutions Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/This episode was brought to you by Pivot Ball Change.

March 4, 202644 min

Honoring Women's History Month With a Powerful CEO and Leader: Stephenie Goddard

In this special Women’s History Month conversation, Stephenie Goddard offers a clear call to action for ambitious leaders: stop disqualifying yourself before anyone else does. If you are waiting until you meet 100 percent of the qualifications to raise your hand, you are likely holding yourself back. Instead, Stephenie challenges you to lead with curiosity, articulate the unique value you bring beyond bullet points, and take strategic risks that align with what energizes you most. This episode will help you rethink how you position yourself for your next opportunity and give you practical ways to show up with confidence, even before you feel fully ready.Stephenie’s career path was anything but linear. After starting in banking, consulting with PwC, and serving in HR at the International Finance Corporation, she eventually transitioned into the dental industry and joined Glidewell in 2006. In 2022, she stepped into the CEO role, becoming only the second person in company history to hold the title. Along the way, she learned that passion fuels mastery. When something genuinely interests her, she finds a way to get exceptional at it. She shares a powerful journaling exercise that helps clarify what you want to be remembered for decades from now, giving today’s decisions deeper meaning and direction.As a woman rising in a male dominated executive space, Stephenie has faced moments of bias and misperception, including being mistaken for a secretary while sitting at the same leadership table. Rather than centering her career around those challenges, she focused on building solutions. She founded Guiding Leaders, a professional development program designed to equip dentists with stronger business and leadership skills. What began as a women focused initiative evolved into a more inclusive program that ultimately strengthened the entire organization. She also opens up about imposter syndrome, the evolving definition of mentorship, and the realities of balancing ambition with motherhood, reminding us that our children remember our presence more than our perfection.If you are in middle management and wondering how to make your next big leap, Stephenie’s final insight is both simple and powerful: stay when it gets hard. Promotions often go to those who demonstrate resilience, loyalty, and the ability to lead through uncertainty. Invest in developing your people, even if it means they may eventually leave. Seek mentors in ways that feel authentic to you. Define what legacy you want to build, then let that vision guide your decisions. This episode is a masterclass in courageous leadership and a reminder that sustainable success is built through grit, growth, and a willingness to keep showing up.Links & Resources:Follow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/Email Suken at: suken@synergysyncsolutions.comSynergy Sync Solutions Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/This episode was brought to you by Pivot Ball Change.

February 11, 202649 min

Thriving through the Middle Manager Squeeze

Middle managers sit at the center of execution and influence, yet many lack clarity around expectations and how to succeed in the role. In this episode, one key takeaway is the importance of proactively asking your leader for alignment on priorities and success metrics. Another is learning how to balance being both a contributor and a coach without burning out or defaulting to micromanagement.Today’s guest, Chris March, brings a global leadership perspective shaped by senior roles across the travel industry in London, Australia, and Canada. He shares why middle managers are critical to organizations and unpacks a surprising reality that many spend a significant portion of their time developing others while still being held accountable for performance. We explore how leaders can shift from telling to coaching, why active listening matters more than most realize, and how trust impacts the level of oversight required with team members.The conversation also dives into relationships, both up and down the org chart. Chris explains how to support your team without crossing personal boundaries and how to advocate for your work with senior leaders without feeling like you are bragging. We also touch on generational differences in leadership, particularly what millennials and Gen Z value as they step into management roles, along with lessons learned from coaching across cultures.To close, Chris offers practical guidance middle managers can act on immediately. Seek out one-on-one coaching to sharpen your leadership skills, practice active listening to empower your team to find their own solutions, and make your impact visible to your leaders. These small but intentional actions can significantly improve clarity, trust, and performance in the middle management role.Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherrmarch/Visit Chris’s Website: https://chrismarchcoaching.com/Links & Resources:Follow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/Email Suken at: suken@synergysyncsolutions.comSynergy Sync Solutions Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/This episode was brought to you by Pivot Ball Change.

January 21, 202655 min

Lighting the Way with Purpose Driven Leadership with Jessica Hutson

Purpose doesn’t start with a massive career leap — it starts with paying closer attention. If you’re feeling successful on paper but disconnected in your day-to-day work, begin here: for one week, track when you feel energized and when you feel depleted. Don’t judge it or try to fix it yet. Simply collect the data. This simple awareness practice is often the first step leaders need to move from achievement mode into intentional leadership.Another place to start is learning how to pause. Whether that looks like a few minutes of reflection between meetings, a brief grounding exercise before difficult conversations, or opening a team session with a moment of stillness, the pause creates space for clarity. Leaders who build this muscle make better decisions, communicate more effectively, and lead with greater presence — not urgency.Jessica Hutson knows this shift firsthand. After years in high-performing corporate environments, including leadership roles at Facebook and TikTok, she began to recognize that promotions and accolades weren’t what truly fueled her. Instead of chasing the next milestone, she slowed down and started noticing patterns — what lit her up, what drained her, and where she felt most alive. That awareness eventually became the foundation for her work today as the founder of Little Torch Leadership.One of the most powerful leadership practices Jessica shares is values work. When leaders feel misaligned or “off,” it’s often because their daily actions aren’t matching what they actually value. To uncover this, ask yourself three questions regularly: What gives me energy? What feels important right now? What consistently drains me? Over time, patterns emerge — and those patterns reveal your values. From there, purpose becomes less abstract and far more actionable.As a final step, don’t wait for clarity before taking action. Purpose is refined through movement, not overthinking. Choose one small decision this week — a meeting, a conversation, or a boundary — and intentionally align it with one of your values. Reflect afterward on how it felt. That feedback loop is what turns purpose into a practical leadership compass.Follow Jessica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicahutson/Visit Jessica’s Website: https://littletorchleadership.com/Links & Resources:Follow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/Email Suken at: suken@synergysyncsolutions.comSynergy Sync Solutions Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/This episode was brought to you by Pivot Ball Change.

January 7, 2026Episode 121 min

Kicking Off 2026 with Intention and My Word of the Year

Let's kick off 2026 with setting intention! Take a listen to how I am doing so and how you can as well! We will start reflecting on how the past 3 years of setting a "Word of the Year" has been powerful for me, and then get to my 2026 Word. Then we will touch on how it can drive focus and impact for you.I'll also tell you about my new program for mid-career leaders to be able to find your leadership voice to lead with more clarity and confidence!Looking for help defining your word of the year, setting your intention or goals, and then making them happen? I am doing that for leaders and for companies, so reach out and let's talk about how we can partner together to make that happen.Links & Resources:Follow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/Email Suken at: suken@synergysyncsolutions.comSynergy Sync Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/

December 17, 2025Episode 817 min

Closing 2025 with Reflection and Goal Setting

As we close out the year, let's spend some time reflecting on 2025 to acknowledge our challenges and celebrate our wins. We will then set goals for 2026 so we can lead through our year with intention and set ourselves up to celebrate what we want 12 months from now.This is about Self Leadership - becoming the best versions of ourself for us and those around us.If you are looking to dive in further for Self and Team Leadership, follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/If you are looking for support on setting and reaching your most important goals, message me on LinkedIn or email me at suken@synergysyncsolutions.com