Bring Out the Talent: A Learning and Development Podcast

Driving Innovation Through Strategic Leadership

What do billion-dollar innovation, a global marketplace, and bold leadership have in common? They were all driven by one thing: strategic leadership. In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we’re joined by John Rossman, former Amazon executive and author of Big Bet Leadership: Your Transformation Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital Era. John led the launch of Amazon Marketplace, now responsible for over half of Amazon’s global sales, and has since guided high-impact transformation at organizations like T-Mobile, the Gates Foundation, and Walmart.This conversation is all about what it really takes to drive innovation and transformation at scale. From identifying strategic opportunities to breaking through organizational inertia, John offers a behind-the-scenes look at how leaders can make bold moves without losing alignment, culture, or control. Tune in for a sharp, energizing conversation that’ll challenge the way you think about leadership.

Culture Killers: Addressing the Behaviors Disrupting Today’s Workplace Cultures

A toxic workplace culture can drive out great employees faster than low pay, and nearly 70% of workers say culture directly impacts productivity. So, what’s quietly undermining your organization?In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, Brett Hoogeveen, Co-Founder of BetterCulture, shares how to spot and stop the behaviors that erode trust, lower morale, and sabotage performance. Brett offers a unique lens on what makes organizations thrive and what tears them apart. From gossip and negativity to leadership blind spots, Brett reveals early warning signs of culture erosion and practical ways to course-correct. You’ll also hear about BetterCulture’s “20 Tenets of Culture” a blueprint for building workplaces people genuinely want to join.This episode offers actionable insights for leaders who want to build a higher-performing culture.Here is your link to a free resource mentioned in the episode:https://betterculture.com/bringoutthetalent/. 

Experts Leading Experts: Building a Culture of Teaching and Learning

In this episode, we’re joined by Joel Podolny, CEO of Honor Education and the founding Dean of Apple University, for a deep dive into how organizations can build a culture where teaching and learning are embedded into everyday work.Joel shares insights from his leadership at Apple, Yale, Harvard, and Stanford, focusing on the concept of “experts leading experts.” We examine the challenges and opportunities in empowering top talent to share knowledge, the role of humility and mutual respect, and the steps leaders can take to create meaningful, peer-driven learning environments.Whether you're shaping learning strategy, driving innovation, or developing your teams, this episode offers practical guidance for cultivating a stronger learning culture at every level.  

High-Stakes Performance: How to Thrive Under Pressure

In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we’re joined by Olympic gold medalist and keynote speaker Connor Fields for a powerful conversation on mental toughness and resilience. As the first American to win gold in BMX racing, Connor’s story is one of grit, perseverance, and reinvention, from his historic victory in Rio to the life-changing crash in Tokyo that forced a dramatic career pivot. Connor opens up about what it really takes to build mental toughness, not just in elite sports, but in everyday life and leadership. He shares how he stayed grounded through pressure, how he reframed failure, and the mindset shifts that helped him find purpose after adversity.Whether you’re facing a personal setback, navigating a career change, or simply looking to strengthen your resilience, this episode is full of honest insights and actionable takeaways to help you bounce back stronger.

Resilience Reimagined: Navigating Change and Transformation

In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we welcome Chad Foster, author, innovator, and leadership expert known for helping global organizations turn adversity into advantage. Chad shares his remarkable journey of breaking barriers, from creating the first CRM software for the visually impaired to guiding leaders at Google, IBM, and Microsoft. We explore the anatomy of resilience, strategies for navigating change, and practical tools to help individuals and organizations build lasting strength through challenges.This inspiring conversation will encourage you to rethink what’s possible and reimagine resilience in your own life and work. Discover more of Chad’s insights here.